2023 CHEVROLET EXPRESS belt

Chevrolet Express Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Seats and Restraints 29
Also, in nearly all states and in all
Canadian provinces, the law requires
wearing seat belts.
How to Wear Seat Belts Properly
Follow these rules for everyone's protection.
There are additional things to know about
seat belts and children, including smaller
children and infants. If a child will be riding
in the vehicle, seeOlder Children045 or
Infants and Young Children 046. Review
and follow the rules for children in addition
to the following rules.
It is very important for all occupants to
buckle up. Statistics show that unbelted
people are hurt more often in crashes than
those who are wearing seat belts.
There are important things to know about
wearing a seat belt properly.
.Sit up straight and always keep your feet
on the floor in front of you (if possible).
.Wear the lap part of the belt low and
snug on the hips, just touching the
thighs. In a crash, this applies force to the
strong pelvic bones and you would be
less likely to slide under the lap belt.
If you slid under it, the belt would apply
force on your abdomen. This could cause
serious or even fatal injuries.
.Wear the shoulder belt over the shoulder
and across the chest. These parts of the
body are best able to take belt
restraining forces. The shoulder belt locks
if there is a sudden stop or crash.
{Warning
You can be seriously injured, or even
killed, by not wearing your seat belt
properly.

Chevrolet Express Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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30 Seats and Restraints
Never allow the lap or shoulder belt to
become loose or twisted.Never wear the shoulder belt under both
arms or behind your back.
Always use the correct buckle for your
seating position.
Never route the lap or shoulder belt over an
armrest.
{Warning
The seat belt can be pinched if it is
routed under plastic trim on the seat,
such as trim around the rear seatback
folding handle or side airbag. In a crash,
pinched seat belts might not provide
adequate protection. Never allow seat
belts to be routed under plastic trim
pieces.

Chevrolet Express Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Seats and Restraints 31
{Warning
You can be seriously injured or killed if
the shoulder belt is worn behind your
back, under your legs, or wrapped around
your neck. The shoulder belt can tighten
but cannot be loosened if it is locked. The
shoulder belt locks when it is pulled all
the way out of the retractor. It unlocks
when the shoulder belt is allowed to go
all the way back into the retractor, but it
cannot do this if it is wrapped around
you. You may have to cut the seat belt if
it is locked and tightened around you.
Lap-Shoulder Belt
All seating positions in the vehicle have a
lap-shoulder belt. If you are using a rear
seating position with a detachable seat belt
and the seat belt is not attached, see
“Reinstalling the Rear Seats”underRear
Seats 024 for instructions on reconnecting
the seat belt to the mini-buckle.
The following instructions explain how to
wear a lap-shoulder belt properly.
1. Adjust the seat, if the seat is adjustable, so you can sit up straight. To see how,
see “Seats” in the Index. 2. Pick up the latch plate and pull the belt
across you. Do not let it get twisted.
The lap-shoulder belt may lock if you
pull the belt across you very quickly.
If this happens, let the belt go back
slightly to unlock it. Then pull the belt
across you more slowly.
If the shoulder portion of a passenger
belt is pulled out all the way, the child
restraint locking feature may be
engaged. See Child Restraint Systems
0 48. If this occurs, let the belt go back
all the way and start again. If the
locking feature stays engaged after
letting the belt go back to stowed
position on the seat, move the seat
rearward or recline the seat until the
shoulder belt retractor lock releases.
3. Push the latch plate into the buckle until it clicks.
Pull up on the latch plate to make sure
it is secure. If the belt is not long
enough, see Seat Belt Extender 034.
Position the release button on the buckle
so that the seat belt could be quickly
unbuckled if necessary.
4. If equipped with a shoulder belt height adjuster, move it to the height that is
right for you. See “Seat Belt Height
Adjuster” later in this section for
instructions on use and important safety
information.

Chevrolet Express Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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32 Seats and Restraints
5. To make the lap part tight, pull up onthe shoulder belt.
It may be necessary to pull stitching on
the seat belt through the latch plate to
fully tighten the lap belt on smaller
occupants.To unlatch the belt, push the button on the
buckle. The belt should return to its stowed
position. Slide the latch plate up the seat
belt webbing when the seat belt is not in
use. The latch plate should rest on the
stitching on the seat belt, near the guide
loop on the side wall.
Always stow the seat belt slowly. If the seat
belt webbing returns quickly to the stowed
position, the retractor may lock and cannot
be pulled out. If this happens, pull the seat
belt straight out firmly to unlock the
webbing, and then release it. If the webbing
is still locked in the retractor, see your
dealer. Before a door is closed, be sure the seat belt
is out of the way. If a door is slammed
against a seat belt, damage can occur to
both the seat belt and the vehicle.
Seat Belt Height Adjuster
The vehicle has a seat belt height adjuster
for the driver and front outboard passenger
positions.
Adjust the height so the shoulder portion of
the belt is on the shoulder and not falling
off of it. The belt should be close to, but not
contacting, the neck. Improper shoulder belt
height adjustment could reduce the
effectiveness of the seat belt in a crash. See
How to Wear Seat Belts Properly
029.

Chevrolet Express Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Seats and Restraints 33
Squeeze both sides of the release button
and pull outward. Then move the height
adjuster up or down to the desired position
and release the button.
After the adjuster is set to the desired
position, try to move it up or down without
squeezing the release button to make sure it
has locked into position.
Seat Belt Pretensioners
If the vehicle has seat-mounted side impact
airbags and roof-rail airbags, it also has seat
belt pretensioners for the front outboard
occupants.
Although the seat belt pretensioners cannot
be seen, they are part of the seat belt
assembly. They can help tighten the seat
belts during the early stages of a moderate
to severe frontal, near frontal, or rear crash
if the threshold conditions for pretensioner
activation are met. And, if the vehicle has
roof-rail airbags, seat belt pretensioners can
help tighten the seat belts in a side crash or
a rollover event.Pretensioners work only once. If the
pretensioners activate in a crash, the
pretensioners and probably other parts of
the vehicle’s seat belt system will need to
be replaced. See
Replacing Seat Belt System
Parts after a Crash 035.
Do not sit on the outboard seat belt while
entering or exiting the vehicle or at any
time while sitting in the seat. Sitting on the
seat belt can damage the webbing and
hardware.
Rear Seat Belt Comfort Guides
Rear seat belt comfort guides may provide
added seat belt comfort for older children
who have outgrown booster seats and for
some adults. When installed on a shoulder
belt, the comfort guide positions the
shoulder belt away from the neck and head.
Comfort guides are available through your
dealer for the rear outboard seating
positions. Instructions are included with the
comfort guides.
Seat Belt Use During Pregnancy
Seat belts work for everyone, including
pregnant women. Like all occupants, they
are more likely to be seriously injured if
they do not wear seat belts.
A pregnant woman should wear a
lap-shoulder belt, and the lap portion should
be worn as low as possible, below the
rounding, throughout the pregnancy.

Chevrolet Express Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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34 Seats and Restraints
The best way to protect the fetus is to
protect the mother. When a seat belt is
worn properly, it is more likely that the
fetus will not be hurt in a crash. For
pregnant women, as for anyone, the key to
making seat belts effective is wearing them
properly.
Seat Belt Extender
If the vehicle's seat belt will fasten around
you, you should use it.
But if a seat belt is not long enough, your
dealer will order you an extender. Only a
GM dealer issued extender should be used.
When you go in to order it, take the
heaviest coat you will wear, so the extender
will be long enough for you. To help avoid
personal injury, do not let someone else use
it, and use it only for the seat it is made to
fit. The extender has been designed for
adults. Never use it for securing child
restraints. For more information on the
proper use and fit of seat belt extenders see
the instruction sheet that comes with the
extender.
Safety System Check
Periodically check the seat belt reminder,
seat belts, buckles, latch plates, retractors,
shoulder belt height adjusters (if equipped),
and seat belt anchorages to make sure they
are all in working order. Look for any other
loose or damaged seat belt system parts
that might keep a seat belt system from
performing properly. See your dealer to
have it repaired. Torn, frayed, or twisted
seat belts may not protect you in a crash.
Torn or frayed seat belts can rip apart under
impact forces. If a belt is torn or frayed,
have it replaced immediately. If a belt is
twisted, it may be possible to untwist by
reversing the latch plate on the webbing.
If the twist cannot be corrected, ask your
dealer to fix it.
Make sure the seat belt reminder light is
working. SeeSeat Belt Reminders 075.
Keep seat belts clean and dry. See Seat Belt
Care 034.
Seat Belt Care
Keep belts clean and dry.
Seat belts should be properly cared for and
maintained.
Seat belt hardware should be kept dry and
free of dust or debris. As necessary, exterior
hard surfaces and seat belt webbing may be
lightly cleaned with mild soap and water.
Ensure there is not excessive dust or debris
in the mechanism. If dust or debris exists in
the system please see the dealer. Parts may
need to be replaced to ensure proper
functionality of the system.
{Warning
Do not bleach or dye seat belt webbing.
It may severely weaken the webbing. In
a crash, they might not be able to
provide adequate protection. Clean and
rinse seat belt webbing only with mild
soap and lukewarm water. Allow the
webbing to dry.

Chevrolet Express Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Seats and Restraints 35
Replacing Seat Belt System Parts
after a Crash
{Warning
A crash can damage the seat belt system
in the vehicle. A damaged seat belt
system may not properly protect the
person using it, resulting in serious injury
or even death in a crash. To help make
sure the seat belt systems are working
properly after a crash, have them
inspected and any necessary
replacements made as soon as possible.
After a minor crash, replacement of seat
belts may not be necessary. But the seat
belt assemblies that were used during any
crash may have been stressed or damaged.
See your dealer to have the seat belt
assemblies inspected or replaced.
New parts and repairs may be necessary
even if the seat belt system was not being
used at the time of the crash. Have the seat belt pretensioners checked if
the vehicle has been in a crash, or if the
airbag readiness light stays on after you
start the vehicle or while you are driving.
See
Airbag Readiness Light 075.
Airbag System
The vehicle has the following airbag:
.A frontal airbag for the driver
The vehicle may have the following airbags:
.A frontal airbag for the front outboard
passenger
.A seat-mounted side impact airbag for the
driver
.A seat-mounted side impact airbag for the
front outboard passenger
Seat-mounted side impact airbags are
only available on vehicles equipped with
roof-rail airbags.
.A roof-rail airbag for the driver on vans
with single row seating
.A roof-rail airbag for the front outboard
passenger on vans with single row
seating
.A roof-rail airbag for the driver and the
passenger seated directly behind the
driver on vans with two row seating
.A roof-rail airbag for the front outboard
passenger and the passenger seated
directly behind the front outboard
passenger on vans with two row seating
If the van is equipped with a sliding door,
the roof-rail airbag for the front outboard
passenger is separate from the roof-rail
airbag for the passenger seated directly
behind the front outboard passenger.
If the van is equipped with a 60/40
swing-out door, a single roof-rail airbag
covers both seating positions.
.A roof-rail airbag for the driver and the
second and third row passengers seated
directly behind the driver on vans with
three or more seating rows
.A roof-rail airbag for the front outboard
passenger and the second and third row
passengers seated directly behind the
front outboard passenger on vans with
three or more seating rows

Chevrolet Express Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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36 Seats and Restraints
If the van is equipped with a sliding door,
the roof-rail airbag for the front outboard
passenger is separate from the roof-rail
airbag for the second and third row
passengers seated directly behind the
front outboard passenger. If the van is
equipped with a 60/40 swing-out door, a
single roof-rail airbag covers all three
seating positions.
Additionally:
.Vehicles that have a raised or modified
roof —such as school buses, ambulances,
vehicles with adaptive equipment for
mobility, and recreational vehicles —may
or may not be equipped with roof-rail
airbags.
.Vehicles with a GVWR above 4 536 kg
(10,000 lb) may be equipped with
roof-rail airbags.
All vehicle airbags have the word AIRBAG on
the trim or on an attached label near the
deployment opening.
For frontal airbags, the word AIRBAG is on
the center of the steering wheel for the
driver and on the instrument panel for the
front outboard passenger. For seat-mounted side impact airbags, the
word AIRBAG is on the side of the seatback
or side of the seat closest to the door.
For roof-rail airbags, the word AIRBAG is on
the ceiling or trim.
Airbags are designed to supplement the
protection provided by seat belts. Even
though today’s airbags are also designed to
help reduce the risk of injury from the force
of an inflating airbag, all airbags must
inflate very quickly to do their job.
Here are the most important things to know
about the airbag system:
{Warning
You can be severely injured or killed in a
crash if you are not wearing your seat
belt, even with airbags. Airbags are
designed to work with seat belts, not
replace them. Also, airbags are not
designed to inflate in every crash. In
some crashes seat belts are the only
restraint. See
When Should an Airbag
Inflate? 039.
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
Wearing your seat belt during a crash
helps reduce your chance of hitting
things inside the vehicle or being ejected
from it. Airbags are“supplemental
restraints” to the seat belts. Everyone in
the vehicle should wear a seat belt
properly, whether or not there is an
airbag for that person.
{Warning
Because airbags inflate with great force
and faster than the blink of an eye,
anyone who is up against, or very close
to, any airbag when it inflates can be
seriously injured or killed. Do not sit
unnecessarily close to any airbag, as you
would be if sitting on the edge of the
seat or leaning forward. Seat belts help
keep you in position before and during a
crash. Always wear a seat belt, even with
airbags. The driver should sit as far back
as possible while still maintaining control
of the vehicle. The seat belts and the
front outboard passenger airbags are (Continued)